Back in Black | First Look at GoT S05E01

Who isn’t excited for the fifth season of Game of Thrones? The fantasy epic’s fifth season has been highly anticipated since the end of season four which saw the deaths of the much-hated (or beloved, depending on your perspective) villains, Joffrey Baratheon and Stannis Lannister. Since then, we’ve been waiting to see Tyrion, Daenerys, and the survivors of the Stark family back in action. Plus, we’ll be getting our first taste of the Sand Snakes, Oberyn Martell’s daughters. (Nymeria Sand is played by Jessica Henwick, the series’ first Asian cast.)

Advertisement

Now, the long wait is over. For the first time ever, Game of Thrones returns to the Philippines at the exact same time as the U.S. telecast for this season. This Monday, April 13, at 9am sharp on HBO. For those who can’t see it live, there will be a same day encore at 9pm. The series will also be available on HBO GO. This will be the first series of HBO Philippines’s push to provide the Filipino audience with the most up-to-date telecast of its famous shows.

Days ahead of the season premiere, HBO Philippines held an advanced screening of the season’s first episode. We caught this very special look at the first episode, which happened to be the very first advanced screening in Asia. It was what you would expect a GoT episode to be. Blood, sex, nudity, dragons, drama, humor, and (gasp) death. It wasn’t the most action-packed episode, but it was a perfect way to reintroduce fans to the wide world of Westeros. Don’t expect epic drama, raunchy love scenes, and gory executions yet. After the break from season 4, this first episode is easing into that high pace once again with a slow progression, just to see where our beloved characters lie, while setting up the plots which will define most of season 5. It will be a combination of both A Feast for Crows and A Dance with Dragons.

Casting call. Jon Snow, Sansa Stark, Daenerys Targaryen, Cersei Lannister, Margaery Tyrell. These characters will usher in the new season.

Sex and Nudity. It was quite redundant and amusing that the MTRCB R-16 warning showed prior to the screening. Sex and nudity? Definite shoe-ins for a GoT episode. But don’t expect over-the-top frolicking. And also same-sex intimacy!

Dragons. Daenerys was forced to chain all three of her dragons, but Drogon, the strongest one managed to escape before being held in captivity. We won’t be seeing Drogon yet. But we’ll be seeing Rhaegal and Viserion. And they’re angry. Very angry. And Daenerys will be looking as lovely as ever.

Drama. The political saga continues. How will Cersei and Jamie cope after the loss of their doting father? Will Daenerys ever control her newly-conquered city? Will Castle Black succumb to Stannis’ boot? How will Tyrion live life as a kinslayer and fugitive of Westeros?

Humor. Speaking of Tyrion, we’ve still got the same wisecracks and binge drinking characteristic of the Emmy award-winning Imp. So much for living a fugitive’s life.

Blood and Death. And of course, the question every fan of GoT asks: how many are dying tonight? I should probably warn you that this leads to spoilers, but we’re in George R. R. Martin’s world, saying how many died means nothing when death follows the series left and right. No one’s safe in the GoT world but I’m not telling you if it’s a major character or just an extra. But I will say that both deaths will leave a lasting mark throughout season 5. Expect a grand casualty rate of… two! Who it is is anyone’s guess. No spoilers!

This season is composed of ten full-length episodes. We can’t wait for all ten. Catch it on HBO every Monday starting April 13 at 9am and 9pm. As Peter Dinklage says, it will be “stabby stabby stabby sexy sexy sexy beautiful beautiful language more stabby brother sister going woo-hoo.”

*

Photos and Video from HBO.